Decorex 2015 review

Rounding up the most exciting finds of Decorex International 2015 to report on behalf of the design industry leading magazine Bridge for Design, our Director Jim Evans headed off with camera in hand eager to capture all the thrills of the UK’s main interiors event. With more than one hundred of the four hundred hand picked exhibitors being new this year (a big increase of previous years) making for a hubbub of excitement and plenty of new finds from the off.

Two big impact new comers to this high-end luxury showcase event were Il Pezzo Mancante (IPM) a brand we personally know very well now with their gorgeously gothic inspired LED versions and blown crystal with new rose bronze finishes to its lighting ranges. The generous deep topped and wonderfully bold dining tables was an attention grabber in walnut and ash with hand welded brass base rectangles almost haphazardly suspending it.

The other brand exciting us from the off is Coco Wolf. They have managed to conquer where others have merely alluded to the phrase “marrying true indoor furniture design styles built to withstand the outdoor market”. Coco Wolf have stormed to the attention of the trade crowds with their sumptuously appealing furniture, but it’s the clever use of construction coupled with advances in material technology that have us finally saying yes we can have furniture that can withstand the rigours of a UK winter and yet still look as good as the genuine indoor pieces, whilst cleverly providing highly styled soft textured fabrics and comfort.

Corinne Julius had curated an insightful mix of design makers for her Future Heritage section. An inspirational collection of one-off pieces. The likes of Moritz Weldermeyer’s Ming which has a series of subtly animating LED’s in a metal frame parametric structure making the core shape of this ‘Ming’ vase mesmerise with soft changing blue light depicting the gentle movement of water. We were also intrigued by the layering glass forms of Shelley James who used EEC scans of her own brain to enhance her works on the graphic impact of print captured within a 3D sculptural forms. Truly inspired.

On a mission to revive the neglected art of ceiling painting, Volta pushed us into the future showing their impressive geometric patterned ceiling designs plus more traditional work via a virtual headset of sound and vision to ‘walk you through’ their creations. The stone specialist Lapicida whose previous stands always delight in innovation, always push the boundaries of what can be achieved with a beautiful piece of natures precious rocks and modern technology. This year they have been launching a range of unique tables utilising differing coloured marbles and deep set in polished brass or brushed edges more sculptural pieces yet with every day function. Decorex attracts a plethora of great lighting brands to this exhibitors dream platform and tends to be the launch bed for some terrific pieces.

Heathfield & Co were showing a large array of new pieces and we loved not only the fabulous coloured glass bases of some but their harmonious inside shade colour matches in shot silks. Mid century cool with an urban edge by the likes of Bert Frank and CTO lighting continue to set the trend for industrial chic paired with a softness achieved by their exceptional hand finishing and soft-looking brass work.

The French company Art et Floritude showcased their elegant and organic structures like the brass multi-coloured leaves from their Vegetal collection which is a scalable bespoke construction allowing designs to ‘climb’ walls and across ceilings in an organic form. Another newcomer, Stablefords lighting, created a buzz with their hand finishes and shattered effect glass by passing a current through the unset acrylic creating a unique shock effect which can be controlled to minimum bubbles or maximum shattered effect. And of course we always marvel over the hand charm delights of OCHRE’s lighting and furniture with the Seed and Celestial pebble always a showstopper with the clever refractions of shadows and pools of light to the tips of the smooth acrylic. Now available in new finishes and offsetting the new delicate leather Sable chairs perfectly.

Quintessential British craftsmanship balanced with trend setting design was well represented in the furniture categories with the likes of Linley, Tom Faulkner, Stuart Scott, Justin Van Breda and Villiers really showing some creative flair. The latter’s Tempest dining table with support loop base showing that they can construct this table to enormous proportions with a glass top of over 5 meters. Their newly launched Elements tables in rustic outer finishes with polished steel undulating inner ‘cuts’ were grabbing our attention.

One of our regular delights – and previous stand winner – Harelquin of London continue to surprise with a sumptuous treasure trove of exceptional discoveries. From full dining tableware and accessories to design your own chandelier and, well, dining tables.